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The Biden administration has announced a reward for information leading to the arrest of an Iranian operative accused of plotting to assassinate a former top US official.
What’s the deal: In a release, the US government announced a $20 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Shahram Poursafi. According to the State Department, Poursafi is believed to be a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and is accused of plotting to assassinate former US National Security Adviser John Bolton.
Why does he want to kill Bolton?: Following his departure from the Trump administration, Iran plotted to assassinate John Bolton as an act of revenge for his involvement in the US decision to carry out the drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian general. Bolton, known for his hardline stance against Iran during his tenure as National Security Adviser, played a key role in advocating for aggressive US policies, including the targeting of Iranian leaders. In addition to Bolton, Iran has also sought to kill former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, resulting in both officials receiving full-time government security details.
What the State Department is saying: In their release, the State Department said that from October 2021 to April 2022, Poursafi attempted to hire criminals within the United States to murder Bolton in Washington in exchange for $300,000. The State Department said, “Poursafi told the potential assassin – who actually became a confidential source for US investigators – that once he completed the Bolton murder he would have a second assassination job for him.”
Iran denies plotting to assassinate former US officials: In an interview last week, Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif said, “We do not assassinate people, but the fact of the matter is — they assassinated a revered Iranian general.”
